Improvement in hydrants



S. W. LEWIS.

HYDRANT.

Patented :une z5, 1877.

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N. PETERS, PHOTO-UTHOGRAFHE SAMUEL W. LEWIS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN HYDRANTS.

Specitication forming part of Letters Patent No. 192,379, dated June 26,1877; application iiled May 15, 1877'. A y l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL W. LEWIS, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county,Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydrants, ofwhich the following is a speciication: l

The first part of my invention relates to that class of wasting hydrantshaving hollow valve-stems or plungers, which devices are commonly knownas moving water-ways and my improvement consists in applying' to thebase of such wasting-hydrants an auxiliary or duplex valve that closesand shuts oft' the flow of water from the inlet-pipe the moment themoving water-way is withdrawn, either for inspection or repair.

l This auxiliary or duplex valve obviates the necessity of employing aspecial stop or other device for shutting o" the supply, and said valvemaybe arranged so as to be closed wholly by the ascending current ot"water, or this closing action may be initiated or completed with theassistance of any suitable appliance or appliances.

Furthermore, this duplex valve may be applied to wasting-hydrants whosemoving water-way closes either with or against the' pressure in theinlet-pipe. Y

The second part of my invention consists in making such duplex valves ofany suitable buoyant material, the top of said valve being furnishedwith a ground seat that eftectually prevents 'the passage ot' water upinto the hydrant the moment said valve is free to assume its normal orelevated position.

This second feature of my invention is applicable to all kinds ot'hydrants, tire-plugs, street-washers, or other devices for controllingthe flow of water under pressure, no matter whether such devices areprovided with hollow or solid plungers, or whether they are wasting ornon-wastin g appliances, or whether they close with or against thecurrent of Water admitted at the inletpipe.

The third part of my invention consists in providing the counter-boredvalve-chamber of a hydrant with a raised seat, upon which seat thecontrolling-valve rests when the. supply of water is shut oft. Thisraised seat is applicable to hydrants having either solid or hollowplunger-rods, the object of said seat beiuglto prevent any concussion orjar in case the controlling valve should be` suddenly closed `inshutting off the water.

The fourth part of my invention consists in applying the operatinghandle or lever to a hydrant in such a manner as to be readily attachedeither to the right or left side of the cap or stock, as may be foundconvenient.

The vtifth part of my invention consists in so constructing this handleas to render it apf plicable to hydrants closing Veither with oraga-inst the pressure.

The sixth part of my invention consists in coupling the operating-leverand the valve stem or plunger to the cap of a hydrant in such a manneras to permit the withdrawal ofthe stein or plunger without disconnectingthem either from the handle or cap. Y In the annexed drawings, Figure 1is an axial section, showing my improvements cm1 bodied in a hydrantwhose moving water-way shuts against the pressure, the controllingvalvebeing closed and the auxiliary valve depressed. Fig.2 is a similarsection through the hydrant-base, the controlling-valve being shownelevated, so as to permit the current of water to ascend within themoving waterway. Fig. 3 is another axial section of the base, the movingwater-way being withdrawnv therefrom and the auxiliary valve forced.V upagainst its seat. Fig; .4 is a horizontal section tion ot' thehydrant-stock at the line it Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the stock'atfthe junction ofthe nozzle with the hollowplun:L ger. Fig. 7 is asection, showing themethod of coupling the moving water-way or valvestemto the operating lever or handle.vr Fig. 8 is a planof the centralportionof the cap. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the hydrant, showingthe operating-.handle applied to-the left side of 'the cap. Fig. l()-represents a modification of said handle as adaptedfor use with thosehydrants whose plungers close with the pressure; and Fig, ll representsone method of applying the duplex valve to such hydrants.

The base of the hydrant consists of acylindrcal casting. A,tapped withone, two, or more female threads, a., into either of which threads maybe engaged the inlet-pipe that communicates with the street-main, thelower orifice of said base being closed with a suitble plug, a'. Whenthe device is to be used as a hose-plug or street-washer, said base maybe provided with yet another female thread, as indicated by dotted linesa" in Fig. 1. By

this arrangement the street-washer may be attached directly to the sameline of pipe that Vsupplies the hydrant, the water being thus allowed todow freely through the two opposite openings of the base A.

This base is provided with vertical channels B, waste-apertures b, and acurtain or partition or other obstruction, C, which` barrier G is solocated with reference to the inlet a as to defiect the current of watertoward plug a', and thereby dislodge any sediment that may have settledat the bottom ofthe hydrant.

Fitted to this base is a valvechamber, D', having one or morewaste-passages, d, a counter-bore, E, and a raised seat, e, which seatoccupies a concentric position within said counter-'bore of thevalve-chamber- The extreme lower end of chamber D has'a seat, F, for theduplex or auxiliary valve G, whose upper end is ground at g to insure anaccurate water-tight joint when said valve comes in contact with seat F.Said duplex valve may be elevated by means of a spring; but I prefer touse a valve that will ascend by its natural buoyancyv as soon as it isrelieved from the pressure of the plunger 0r stem.

This buoyancy may be secured by making the valve of a thin metallicshell, as seen in Fig. l; or the ground disk g may be attached to apiece of cork or other light substance, G', by means of a screw-threadedstem, g', as represented in Fig. 2 or said ground disk g may be screwedto a tube, G", as seen in Fig. 3, the lower end of said tube beingclosed, so as to prevent the entrance of water into the shell-valve. Theduplex or auxiliary valve is depressed by a rod, H, depending from themoving water-way I, whose construction and operation are essentially thesame as the hollow plunger seen in Letters Patentl No. 169,738,- issuedNovember 9, 1875. The controllingvalve i of said plunger may be securedin position by the act 0f screwing rod H into the closed 'lower endofsaid moving water-way, the upper end of this water-way being coupledto an elbow, J, from which latter projects discharge nozzle or 'spout K,capable of vertical movement within slot l of the hydrantstock L. Thisstock may be attached to the base A with any suitable pipe, M, thejunctions between said base, pipe,and stock being effect'- ed eitherwith screw-threaded joints or else with anges and bolts. Nozzle K- isscrewed into elbow J, and carries a scntcheon-plate, N, that is adaptedto conceal the previouslydescribed slot l.

Plate N is secured with nut k, and is guided in a vertical path by a lugor tongue, u, that traverses a groove, l', of the stock L..

Projecting from elbow J is a spindle, O, having a diminished neck, o,and a T-head, o',

said spindle beingsurrounded with a coiled spring, P, that maintainscontrolling-valve i securely upon raised seat e, as seen in Fig. 1. Qrepresents the hydrant-"cap, whose central and elevated portion ispierced with a circular aperture, q, to admit the spindle O.Gommunicatiug with this central aperture are slots q', of such size asto permit the ready passage through the cap of the T-head o'. Theseslots are in line with the perforated sockets It R' of the hydrantstock.

Furthermore, this cap is pierced with two diametrically-oppositeapertures, s s', and

Vthree depending flanges, S S' S", of which flanges the ones S S'Aconceal the sockets R R', as seen in Fig. 5. The other flange, S", actsas a guide to the upper' end of plate N, and also prevents anyexposition of the slot l when the closure of the hydrant depresses saidplate. Passing through aperture sl is a bolt, T, whose nut t ishoused'w-ithn socket R S. Aperture s' is traversed with a bolt, T',whose exteuded'washer t' occupies the socket R' S', and said bolt T'engages with afulcrum= bearing, U, upon whose pivot u theoperatinghandle or lever V vibrat'es'. The short arm of this lever or handle"carries a" hood, W, which is chambered out at ww', said chambers be: ingprovided with a communicating slot, w", of such size as to readily admitthe insertion of T-head o' intothe upper division w'. l

This slot w" is in the same plane as the slots q' and handle V, asseeninv Fig. l.

The lower chamber w'is of such capacity as' to permit free verticalmovement of hood W without coming in'contact 'with the central portionof cap Q, while at the same time the extremity of said capis neverexposed when handle V is operated to open valve t.

In Fig. 11 the moving water-way or plunger is shown as adapted for usewith a hydrant that closes with the pressureof water, said plunger Ibeing secured either to ahexagonal or octagonal or other non-circulartube, X, having suitable apertures above its valve an to permit theascent of 'water through said tube and plunger as soon as this valve` isforced away from vits seat Y. Valve Y is screwed into a bushing, Z,which latter is screwed into base 'A. The aperturein seat Y has the samenon-circular shape as tubeX, in order that the proper rotationl of thelatter may unscrew said seat from the bushing Z when the hydrant is tobe inspected or repaired. Immediately upon the` removal of plunger I X.x and seat Y the ioat G will ascend and close the opening in bushing Z,and thus prevent water entering thel hydrantstock. L' is a button orother stop capable of being turned up, so as to maintain the plunger inan elevated position when it is desired to draw o a large quantity ofwater.

To apply handle V to the right sidev of the hydrant, as shown in Fig. l,the fulcrum bear-n ing or stump U is secured in position with bolt T',whose washer t' is seated in the socket R'S'. To apply said handle tothe left side loasve i 3 of the cap the bolts T T are detached, andlever V is then swung around until the fulcrum-bearing U is i-n linewith aperture s, when said bolts are inserted, respectively, in thesockets R R', the bolt T being again engaged with said bearing U, asseen in Fig. 9.

It will thus be seen that the change from a right to a left hand hydrantcan be effected in a few minutes, and without calling in a plumber orother artisan. It will also be noticed that, in whichever of these twodiametrically-opposite positions handle V may be turned, the T-head owill be disposed transversely of slot w, and, consequently, spindle Ocannot become uncoupled from said operating-handle. Owing to the stressof spring P, valve z is maintained securely upon the raised seat e, andin this closed condition of the hydrant the water in plunger'l JK isdrained od' through the waste-passages b and d. Furthermore,in thisclosed condition ofthe hydrant rod H forces the auxiliary or duplexvalve G away from seat F. To open the hydrant the long arm of lever V isdepressed, and the cupped packing of plunger I is elevated far enough tocover the upper ends of channels cl, as seen in Fig. 2, and water thenows through said plunger in the manner described inthe patent previouslyalluded to. In this open condition of the hydrant rod H prevents thefloat-valve G coming in contact with seat F, and as soon as a sufficientquantity of water has been drawn off, lever`V is liberated, and thestress of spring P at once restores the two valves G and Ii to theirnormal positions. In thus closing the hydrant the valve i graduallycompresses the water contained in the annular space around raised seate, which body of water then serves as a cushion to prevent any suddenjar or concussion when said valve comes in contact with said seat. Forrepair or inspection of the apparatus, bolts T T are disengaged and capQ elevated until plunger I and its attachments are withdrawn bodily fromthe stock L M. The instant plunger I is withdrawn iloatvalve G g isdriven against seat F, and thus prevents the ascent of water within thestock L M. This automatic closure of said valve is effected, primarily,by its natural buoyancy, and, secondarily, by the detlection of thecurrent of water under barrier C, and thence up within the base A. Theplunger, while withdrawn, will remain coupled to lever V as long as thelatter is maintained in line with apertures s s; but by simply swingingsaid handle around so as to bring slot w in line with T- head o', thelatter can at once Vbe disengaged from the hood W w'.

Spindle O, however, is still-coupled to. cap Q but by rotating thelatter far enough the T-head o can be slipped through the slots q',after which act all the component members of the plunger H I i J K N canbe detached from each other in a few minutes.

To adapt my shiftable handle for use with hydrants closing with thepressure, said lever V W is furnished with a short lug, V', which lug ispivoted to the fulcrum-stump U, as seen in Fig. l0.

I am aware that it is not new to apply duplex or auxiliary valves tohydrants having solid stems or plungers, and I am also aware that it isnot new to use such duplex or auxiliary valves with hydrants havingmoving water-ways when said valves are arranged to coact with the mainvalve in starting or stopping the flow of water every time the hydrantis opened and closed. Therefore my claim to the duplex or auxiliaryvalve is expressly limited to their use in wasting-hydrants with movingwater-ways when said duplex valves are so arranged as to be seated onlyon the bodily withdrawal of the plunger from the stock, while at allother times said auxiliary valve is maintained a suitable distance awayfrom its seat by the rod H, or its equivalent device, or else by its ownweight or otherwise.

By this arrangement I dispense with at least three water-tight joints inthe stock and a stuffing-box at the upper end of the same, which devicesare necessary to conne the discharge of water at the nozzle when thewater occupies the entire body of the hydrant, as has heretofore beendone.

Furthermore, this arrangement facilitates repairing and reduces verymaterially the cost of manufacture. It also reduces the quantity ofwater that is wasted every time the hydraht is closed.

I reserve the right of operating the plunger I K with a screw oreccentric, or any substitute for the lever V. I reserve also the rightof applying any or all of these improvements to lire-plugs orstreet-washers, or any other apparatus for controlling the flow of waterunder pressure.

Finally, I may in some cases dispense with the buoyant or tloat valve G,and couple the latter to the moving water-way in such a manl ner as tobe elevated by the same with a positive movement, the coupling being soarranged as-to disconnect the valve from the water-way when saidwater-way is removed bodily from the hydrant.

I claim as my inventionl. A wasting-hydrantconsisting of a movingwater-way closing either with or against the pressure, and a duplex orauxiliary valve, which latter is seated only when the main or uppervalve is Withdrawn bodily, for the purpose described.

2. An improved wasting-hydrant, consisting, essentially, ot' a suitablevalve-chamber, a moving water-Way, and an auxiliary or duplex valve,which latter closes automatically and shuts oft' the supply only whensaid waterway is withdrawn, substantially as herein described and setforth.

3. In combination with a hydrant-base, a buoyant or oating duplex valvewhose upper end is furnished with a ground seat, substantially as hereindescribed, and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of valve-chamber D F, buoyant duplex valve Gr,operating-rod H, and plunger I, the upper end of said valve beingprovided with a ground joint, substantially as herein described and setforth. 5.'In combination with valve'chamb'er D of a hydrant, thecounter-bore E and raised seat e, for reception of the controlling-valvet', sub stantially as herein described.

6. A hydrant-lever capable of being secured to the cap or stock ineither one of two diam# etrically-opposite positions by the shiftablefulcrum-bearing T U, so as to locate said handle either to the right orleft, substantially as herein described.

7. rlfhe combination of hydrant-cap Q s s', sockets R R', retainingdevices T t '1" t', and shiftable fulcrumbearing U of handle V, substantially as herein described.

8. The combination oi' spindle O, neck 0, T-head o', and ohambered hoodW fw w w" of handleV,substantially as herein described.

9. The combination of spindle O, neck o, T-head o', hood W w w w",handle V, and cap Q q q', substantially as herein described.

10. The barrier G for deflecting the nowine,` current of water towardthe bottom of iiydrant-base A, substantially' as herein de'- scribed.

11. In combination with the shiftable ful'- crum-bearing U andhydrant-handle V, the extension V', pivoted to said bearing,substantially as herein described.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

' SAMUEL W. LEWIS.

Witnesses :V

J AMES H. LAYMAN, D. P. KENNEDY.

